Eleventh official Audubon Christmas Bird Count: Atitlan Volcano (GMAV) 2017
organized by CAYAYA BIRDING
in memoriam Jason Berry
Compiled by Knut Eisermann and Claudia Avendaño,
CAYAYA BIRDING, January 2018
The 11th Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán Volcano took place on 20 December 2017. A total of 26 observers in 10 groups counted birds in Reserva Natural Privada Los Tarrales, Finca San Jerónimo Miramar, Reserva Natural Privada Los Andes, in the municipal forest of Santiago Atitlán near Mirador Rey Tepepul, on Atitlán volcano, and on Tolimán volcano, and in the bay of Santiago Atitlán of Lake Atitlán. Weather conditions were favorable, with clear to cloudy sky, without rain.
A total of 4423 birds of 274 species were recorded, 3 more species were observed during the count week. The most abundant species during this Christmas Bird Count with more than 50 detected individuals were (in descending order of abundance): White-collared Swift, Vaux's Swift, American Coot, Pacific Parakeet, Black Vulture, Tennessee Warbler, Band-tailed Pigeon, Great-tailed Grackle, Mexican Violetear, Townsend's Warbler, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Azure-rumped Tanager, Brown-backed Solitaire, Orange-fronted Parakeet, Bushy-crested Jay, and Clay-colored Thrush.
Most noteworthy records included a Crane Hawk, 21 Redheads, and 25 Horned Guans. Many of the endemics of the northern Central American highlands were recorded during the count day, including Horned Guan, Highland Guan, Fulvous Owl, Guatemalan Pygmy-Owl, Azure-rumped Tanager, Blue-throated Motmot, Rufous Sabrewing, Green-throated Mountain-gem, Rufous-browed Wren, Black-capped Swallow, Black-throated Jay, Rufous-collared Thrush, and Black-capped Siskin.
Atitlán volcano is part of the Atitlán Important Bird Area (IBA GT015) and this Christmas Bird Count helps to monitor bird populations in this IBA. Among the species of conservation concern recorded during the 2017 count were the globally Endangered species Azure-rumped Tanager and Horned Guan, and two Vulnerable species (Highland Guan and Pink-headed Warbler).
It follows a list of species and numbers of individuals recorded during the 11th Christmas Bird Count at Atitlán Volcano (Nomenclature according to AOU 1998 and supplements, most recent update AOS 2017). Species recorded during the count week are marked with (cw).
- Anatidae
- Blue-winged Teal Spatula discors 7
- Redhead Aythya americana 21
- Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris 9
- Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis 9
- Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis 2
- Cracidae
- White-bellied Chachalaca Ortalis leucogastra 20
- Crested Guan Penelope purpurascens 30
- Highland Guan Penelopina nigra 44
- Horned Guan Oreophasis derbianus 25
- Odontophoridae
- Buffy-crowned Wood-Partridge Dendrortyx leucophrys 1
- Singing Quail Dactylortyx thoracicus 7
- Spotted Wood-Quail Odontophorus guttatus 1
- Podicipedidae
- Least Grebe Tachybaptus dominicus 2
- Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps 2
- Columbidae
- Red-billed Pigeon Patagioenas flavirostris 15
- Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata 95
- Inca Dove Columbina inca 10
- Common Ground-Dove Columbina passerina 3
- Ruddy Ground-Dove Columbina talpacoti 2
- White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi 16
- White-faced Quail-Dove Zentrygon albifacies 17
- White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica 7
- Cuculidae
- Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana 14
- Groove-billed Ani Crotophaga sulcirostris 18
- Caprimulgidae
- Lesser Nighthawk Chordeiles acutipennis 10
- Common Pauraque Nyctidromus albicollis 9
- Mexican Whip-poor-will Antrostomus arizonae 5
- Apodidae
- Chestnut-collared Swift Streptoprocne rutila 1
- White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris 225
- Vaux's Swift Chaetura vauxi 201
- White-throated Swift Aeronautes saxatalis 10
- Trochilidae
- Mexican Violetear Colibri thalassinus 84
- Green-breasted Mango Anthracothorax prevostii 1
- Rivoli's Hummingbird Eugenes fulgens 9
- Long-billed Starthroat Heliomaster longirostris 1
- Green-throated Mountain-gem Lampornis viridipallens 9
- Amethyst-throated Hummingbird Lampornis amethystinus 13
- Garnet-throated Hummingbird Lamprolaima rhami 5
- Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird Tilmatura dupontii 3
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris 42
- Wine-throated Hummingbird Atthis ellioti 19
- Broad-tailed Hummingbird Selasphorus platycercus 5
- Canivet's Emerald Chlorostilbon canivetii 2
- Emerald-chinned Hummingbird Abeillia abeillei 37
- Rufous Sabrewing Campylopterus rufus 7
- Violet Sabrewing Campylopterus hemileucurus 5
- White-bellied Emerald Amazilia candida 4
- Azure-crowned Hummingbird Amazilia cyanocephala 6
- Berylline Hummingbird Amazilia beryllina 3
- Blue-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia cyanura 16
- Cinnamon Hummingbird Amazilia rutila 10
- Blue-throated Goldentail Hylocharis eliciae 12
- White-eared Hummingbird Hylocharis leucotis 11
- Rallidae
- Sora Porzana carolina 6
- Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinicus 45
- Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata 25
- American Coot Fulica americana 200
- Jacanidae
- Northern Jacana Jacana spinosa 1
- Scolopacidae
- Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius 18
- Pelecanidae
- Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis 1
- Ardeidae
- Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 11
- Great Egret Ardea alba 16
- Snowy Egret Egretta thula 5
- Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea 8
- Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor 13
- Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 22
- Green Heron Butorides virescens 35
- Cathartidae
- Black Vulture Coragyps atratus 125
- Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 39
- King Vulture Sarcoramphus papa 3
- Pandionidae
- Osprey Pandion haliaetus 2
- Accipitridae
- Gray-headed Kite Leptodon cayanensis 1
- Crane Hawk Geranospiza caerulescens 1
- Common Black Hawk Buteogallus anthracinus 1
- Great Black Hawk Buteogallus urubitinga 1
- Roadside Hawk Rupornis magnirostris 1
- White Hawk Pseudastur albicollis (cw)
- Gray Hawk Buteo plagiatus 8
- Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus 4
- Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus 7
- Zone-tailed Hawk Buteo albonotatus 1
- Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 4
- Black Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus tyrannus 2
- Ornate Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus ornatus 3
- Strigidae
- Whiskered Screech-Owl Megascops trichopsis 7
- Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus 5
- Northern Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium gnoma 1
- Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium brasilianum 4
- Mottled Owl Ciccaba virgata 11
- Black-and-white Owl Ciccaba nigrolineata 2
- Fulvous Owl Strix fulvescens 2
- Trogonidae
- Gartered Trogon Trogon caligatus 8
- Mountain Trogon Trogon mexicanus 13
- Collared Trogon Trogon collaris 11
- Resplendent Quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno 2
- Momotidae
- Tody Motmot Hylomanes momotula 4
- Blue-throated Motmot Aspatha gularis 32
- Lesson's Motmot Momotus lessonii 18
- Alcedinidae
- Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon 4
- Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle americana 1
- Ramphastidae
- Northern Emerald-Toucanet Aulacorhynchus prasinus 41
- Collared Aracari Pteroglossus torquatus 8
- Picidae
- Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus 2
- Golden-fronted Woodpecker Melanerpes aurifrons 20
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius 4
- Smoky-brown Woodpecker Picoides fumigatus 2
- Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus 13
- Golden-olive Woodpecker Colaptes rubiginosus 13
- Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus 2
- Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus 4
- Falconidae
- Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans 1
- Collared Forest-Falcon Micrastur semitorquatus 2
- Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis 4
- Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 1
- Psittacidae
- Orange-fronted Parakeet Eupsittula canicularis 57
- Pacific Parakeet Psittacara strenuus 141
- Barred Parakeet Bolborhynchus lineola 26
- Orange-chinned Parakeet Brotogeris jugularis 7
- Yellow-naped Parrot Amazona auropalliata 10
- Thamnophilidae
- Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus 7
- Furnariidae
- Tawny-throated Leaftosser Sclerurus mexicanus 2
- Ruddy Woodcreeper Dendrocincla homochroa 1
- Ivory-billed Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus flavigaster 5
- Spotted Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus erythropygius 5
- Spot-crowned Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes affinis 13
- Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner Anabacerthia variegaticeps 8
- Ruddy Foliage-gleaner Clibanornis rubiginosus 9
- Rufous-breasted Spinetail Synallaxis erythrothorax (cw)
- Tyrannidae
- Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet Camptostoma imberbe 5
- Greenish Elaenia Myiopagis viridicata 6
- Yellow-bellied Elaenia Elaenia flavogaster 7
- Mountain Elaenia Elaenia frantzii 2
- Ochre-bellied Flycatcher Mionectes oleagineus 1
- Paltry Tyrannulet Zimmerius vilissimus 15
- Northern Bentbill Oncostoma cinereigulare 3
- Common Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum cinereum 6
- Eye-ringed Flatbill Rhynchocyclus brevirostris 1
- Yellow-olive Flycatcher Tolmomyias sulphurescens 4
- Stub-tailed Spadebill Platyrinchus cancrominus 2
- Tufted Flycatcher Mitrephanes phaeocercus 3
- Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi 1
- Greater Pewee Contopus pertinax 7
- Tropical Pewee Contopus cinereus 6
- Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris 6
- Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus 7
- Hammond's Flycatcher Empidonax hammondii 4
- Yellowish Flycatcher Empidonax flavescens 16
- Empidonax sp. 1
- Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans 22
- Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer 16
- Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus 1
- Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus 3
- Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua 21
- Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis 22
- Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus 19
- Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis 13
- Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus forficatus 6
- Tityridae
- Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata 7
- Rose-throated Becard Pachyramphus aglaiae 7
- Pipridae
- Long-tailed Manakin Chiroxiphia linearis 8
- Vireonidae
- Rufous-browed Peppershrike Cyclarhis gujanensis 7
- Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius melitophrys 4
- Green Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius pulchellus 2
- Lesser Greenlet Pachysylvia decurtata 6
- Hutton's Vireo Vireo huttoni 2
- Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons 6
- Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius 16
- Plumbeous Vireo Vireo plumbeus 1
- Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus 13
- Brown-capped Vireo Vireo leucophrys 7
- Vireo sp. 3
- Corvidae
- Black-throated Jay Cyanolyca pumilo 2
- White-throated Magpie-Jay Calocitta formosa 8
- Bushy-crested Jay Cyanocorax melanocyaneus 54
- Hirundinidae
- Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor 3
- Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina 44
- Black-capped Swallow Atticora pileata 25
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis 80
- Bank Swallow Riparia riparia 18
- Cave Swallow Petrochelidon fulva 7
- Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 20
- Troglodytidae
- House Wren Troglodytes aedon 12
- Rufous-browed Wren Troglodytes rufociliatus 13
- Band-backed Wren Campylorhynchus zonatus 12
- Rufous-naped Wren Campylorhynchus rufinucha 15
- Spot-breasted Wren Pheugopedius maculipectus 9
- Rufous-and-white Wren Thryophilus rufalbus 3
- Cabanis's Wren Cantorchilus modestus 12
- White-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucosticta 9
- Gray-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucophrys 25
- Polioptilidae
- Long-billed Gnatwren Ramphocaenus melanurus 2
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea 3
- Turdidae
- Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis 4
- Brown-backed Solitaire Myadestes occidentalis 59
- Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush Catharus aurantiirostris 6
- Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush Catharus frantzii 12
- Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus 9
- Black Thrush Turdus infuscatus 17
- Mountain Thrush Turdus plebejus 1
- Clay-colored Thrush Turdus grayi 51
- White-throated Thrush Turdus assimilis 14
- Rufous-collared Robin Turdus rufitorques 18
- Mimidae
- Blue-and-white Mockingbird Melanotis hypoleucus 10
- Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus 3
- Ptiliogonatidae
- Gray Silky-flycatcher Ptiliogonys cinereus 28
- Peucedramidae
- Olive Warbler Peucedramus taeniatus 3
- Passeridae
- House Sparrow Passer domesticus 24
- Fringillidae
- Blue-crowned Chlorophonia Chlorophonia occipitalis 32
- Scrub Euphonia Euphonia affinis 16
- Yellow-throated Euphonia Euphonia hirundinacea 27
- Elegant Euphonia Euphonia elegantissima 21
- Hooded Grosbeak Coccothraustes abeillei 4
- Black-capped Siskin Spinus atriceps 3
- Black-headed Siskin Spinus notatus 3
- Lesser Goldfinch Spinus psaltria 17
- Passerellidae
- Chestnut-capped Brushfinch Arremon brunneinucha 15
- White-naped Brushfinch Atlapetes albinucha 3
- Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus 1
- Rusty Sparrow Aimophila rufescens 2
- White-eared Ground-Sparrow Melozone leucotis 11
- White-faced Ground-Sparrow Melozone biarcuata 2
- Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis 14
- Yellow-eyed Junco Junco phaeonotus 1
- Common Chlorospingus Chlorospingus flavopectus 30
- Icteriidae
- Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens 2
- Icteridae
- Yellow-billed Cacique Amblycercus holosericeus 4
- Black-vented Oriole Icterus wagleri 4
- Bar-winged Oriole Icterus maculialatus 2
- Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius 44
- Spot-breasted Oriole Icterus pectoralis 5
- Altamira Oriole Icterus gularis 9
- Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula 38
- Bronzed Cowbird Molothrus aeneus 25
- Melodious Blackbird Dives dives 25
- Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus 93
- Parulidae
- Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla 5
- Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorum 4
- Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis 1
- Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora cyanoptera 1
- Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia 16
- Crescent-chested Warbler Oreothlypis superciliosa 11
- Tennessee Warbler Oreothlypis peregrina 108
- Nashville Warbler Oreothlypis ruficapilla 7
- Gray-crowned Yellowthroat Geothlypis poliocephala 1
- MacGillivray's Warbler Geothlypis tolmiei 2
- Kentucky Warbler Geothlypis formosa 1
- Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas 4
- American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla 1
- Magnolia Warbler Setophaga magnolia 11
- Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia 13
- Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata 20
- Townsend's Warbler Setophaga townsendi 81
- Black-throated Green Warbler Setophaga virens 7
- Fan-tailed Warbler Basileuterus lachrymosus (cw)
- Rufous-capped Warbler Basileuterus rufifrons 5
- Golden-browed Warbler Basileuterus belli 7
- Golden-crowned Warbler Basileuterus culicivorus 14
- Wilson's Warbler Cardellina pusilla 44
- Pink-headed Warbler Cardellina versicolor 4
- Slate-throated Redstart Myioborus miniatus 25
- Cardinalidae
- Summer Tanager Piranga rubra 20
- Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana 18
- Flame-colored Tanager Piranga bidentata 2
- White-winged Tanager Piranga leucoptera 17
- Red-crowned Ant-Tanager Habia rubica 2
- Red-throated Ant-Tanager Habia fuscicauda 2
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus 15
- Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea 19
- Painted Bunting Passerina ciris 5
- Thraupidae
- Blue-gray Tanager Thraupis episcopus 15
- Yellow-winged Tanager Thraupis abbas 36
- Azure-rumped Tanager Tangara cabanisi 66
- Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer Diglossa baritula 3
- Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina 2
- Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus 74
- Yellow-faced Grassquit Tiaris olivaceus 1
- White-collared Seedeater Sporophila torqueola 14
- Black-headed Saltator Saltator atriceps 23
- Grayish Saltator Saltator coerulescens 9
References
AOU (1998) The American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds. 7th edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.
AOS (2017) Fifty-eighth supplement to the American Ornithological Society's check-list of North American birds. Auk 134: 751-773.
To see results of all Christmas Bird Counts throughout the Americas visit http://www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count.
